In “Little Trailer by the Read,” Plainview author Gene Meacham tells the story of himself, his wife, their three daughters, and his parents taking a lengthy journey, starting in West Texas and winding through the scenic vistas of New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and California. A high point of the trip is that all-American destination, Disneyland.

The story is true, Meacham said, although he has changed the names of the characters to protect their anonymity.

During their time as missionaries in Africa, the family planned this trip and saved enough money to buy the little trailer of the title. Their deliberate choice to spend their furlough time traveling together as a family, enabling their daughters to get to know their grandparents, is something families should emulate.

Meacham, called David Montgomery in the book, and his family pull the trailer behind his car, while Grandma and Grandpa travel in a white pickup pulling “the long, long trailer.”

The relationship between David and his father is amusing. David celebrates his 40th birthday on the trip, while his father is in his 70s. Though David is quite intelligent, he unabashedly defers to his dad in all things mechanical. Right after they buy the trailer, David tentatively asks his dad if he wants to drive.

“No, sir,” said his dad. “It’s time for you to learn.”

An excellent reminder that a good parent is always teaching, always wanting us to do better, always moving us toward independence, no matter how old we are.

“He was a handy craftsman and could fix about anything. I was very grateful to have my father along,” said Meacham. He dedicated the book to his father, Harold Lane Meacham, who died in 1988.

Wherever this missionary family goes, they turn to their heavenly Father, giving thanks for one another, for their vehicles, for parking spaces, for the glorious scenery.

Nevertheless, since they are traveling with three girls, ages 14, 11 and 9, all lively and self-assertive, the usual amount of bickering, begging and silliness goes on.

The book is set in a slightly earlier time, and I found it refreshing that there are no cell phones or computer games to distract them from the scenery or from one another. The two vehicles communicate by walkie-talkie. And though the family is familiar with television, they’ve never made a habit of it.

“We spent five years in Malawi with no television at all,” Meacham said. “We learned to read a lot, to be creative and to enjoy family time together.”

Katherine, the mother, brings along a guidebook that she reads from frequently, so the reader becomes a little more educated about the country the Montgomery family is traveling through.

Meacham provides questions at the end of each chapter along with suggestions for activities and prayer. Some are educational, some are moral and some are just fun. Following a chapter about Disneyland, we are asked to name the Seven Dwarfs (I always miss just one).

“My intent in writing the book was to encourage family togetherness, reflecting on God’s creation. Families can read the book together and talk about it,” Meacham said.

“Nowadays, it seems like there are so many things that tear families apart,” he added. “My hope is the book is something that will bring them back together in some special shared moments.”

Meacham suggested the book, which is written at about the fourth-grade level, might be useful for families that home-school their children. Churches that bring together multi-generational Sunday school classes might also find it useful.

A second book “The Limbe House: An African Dream,” telling about the family’s time as missionaries in Africa, will soon be available. Meacham expects it will be ready by the time of his next signing at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, at Barnes & Noble in Lubbock.

Meacham is in the process of writing a trilogy about the family’s African experiences, beginning with “The Limbe House.” The second book, he says, is well under way.

Meacham says his book-signings have been fairly successful. The book can be purchased at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and eBooks. Meacham has signed copies available for those who wish to have one. Call 806-292-1231.